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Caves of Slovak Karst) and ‘SVETOVÉ PRÍRODNÉ Such Processes Are Found in DEDIČSTVO’ (World Natural Heritage)

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Caves of Slovak Karst) and ‘SVETOVÉ PRÍRODNÉ Such Processes Are Found in DEDIČSTVO’ (World Natural Heritage) Coin details Denomination: €100 Composition: 900 gold, 75 silver, 25 copper Weight: 9.5 g Diameter: 26 mm Edge: milled Issuing volume: up to a maximum of 5,000 coins (proof) Designer: Roman Lugár Engraver: Dalibor Schmidt Producer: Kremnica Mint (Slovakia) The obverse design captures the essence of cave for- mation by showing the surface of a small cave lake and ripples caused by water dripping from a stalactite. Positioned prominently in the upper and right side of the design is a depiction of the white cave-dwelling crustacean Niphargus aggtelekiensis, its shape mirro- ring the outer ripples. The Slovak coat of arms appears at the bottom centre, and to the left of it is the name of the issuing country ‘SLOVENSKO’ inscribed in se- Dobšinská Ice Cave mi-circle along the edge. The year of issuance ‘2017’ is shown next to the upper left edge. At the top of If a subterranean flow in the design are the stylised letters ‘RL’, the initials of a karst system moves to a de- the designer, Roman Lugár, and the mint mark of the eper level, it sometimes results Kremnica Mint (Mincovňa Kremica), consisting of the in the weakening and collapse initials ‘MK’ placed between two dies. of the more elevated chamber ceilings, creating open sack- The reverse of the coin shows a bat flying in front of -like spaces in which cold air the Rožňava Cavers‘ Dripstone in Krásnohorská Cave. may be trapped over a long The coin’s denomination ‘100 EURO’ appears in two time and may, under suitable lines above the bat. Along the edge of the design are conditions, allow ice to form. the inscriptions ‘JASKYNE SLOVENSKÉHO KRASU’ Two stunning examples of (Caves of Slovak Karst) and ‘SVETOVÉ PRÍRODNÉ such processes are found in DEDIČSTVO’ (World Natural Heritage). the Slovak Karst: the Silická World Natural Heritage ľadnica Cave and Dobšinská Ice Cave. The former is Euro- pe’s lowest ice cave, while the Caves of Slovak Karst latter contains more under- ground ice (110,000 m³) than Published by: © Národná banka Slovenska, November 2017 any other temperate-zone Photo: Progress Promotion, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, cave in the world. Z. Višňovská, Wikimedia (Semu, Jojo, Dariusz Woźniak, Stafiniak) Gold Collector Coin http://www.nbs.sk/en/banknotes-and-coins/euro-coins/collector-coins Silická ľadnica Cave Among the temperate-zone plateau karsts typical of The most well-known of these formations are river central Europe are the Slovak Karst and the Aggtelek caves. The dissolution was aided by mechanical flu- Karst (Hungary), which feature almost the full range vial erosion, often originating from ponors on the of surface and subterranean karst phenomena, in- borders between karst and non-karst areas. Some ri- cluding karren fields, dolines, uvalas, blind valleys, ver caves are active throughout the year, and others gorges, caves and chasms. Their cave systems are in- only during heavier rains or snowmelt. Subterranean terconnected and genetically homogeneous. The in- flows of several kilometres are often observable in scription of “Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Kar- these caves. In the Domica-Baradly cave system, a st” on the UNESCO World Heritage List was based on subterranean river called Styx flows to Hungary and a bilateral Slovak-Hungarian nomination project and surfaces more than 25 km further downstream as was approved by the World Heritage Committee at a karst spring, leaving behind a magical world of its session in Berlin on 4–9 December 1995. In 2000 underground chambers with remarkable pagodas, the property was expanded to include Dobšinská Ice stalagnates and flowstone cascades. In Gombasecká Cave situated in the Slovenský raj (Slovak Paradise) Cave, the straw stalactities are up to three metres National Park. Domica Cave long, while in Krásnohorská Cave there is a 34-me- ter-high sinter stalagmite, extremely large even by Extending over a relatively small area, the subterra- A favourable climatic and geographical condition has European standards. In Jasovská Cave, water is pre- nean landforms of the Slovak Karst and Aggtelek Karst given rise to a variety of species of subterranean fauna in sent only in the lowest depths, while the massive are outstanding for their extraordinary diversity of com- the Slovak Karst and Aggtelek Karst. These cave-dwelling sizes and fascinating surfaces of the more elevated position and morphology, variety of flowstones and animals include species found only in this cave system, their older chambers are a huge attraction for visitors. dripstones, remarkable fauna (including many ende- endemism is a result of an exclusively underground (hypo- Interestingly, a legible Hussite inscription from 1452 mic species), and trove of archaeological treasures that geal) habitat. Such species include the tiny white crustacean has been preserved in this part of the cave. Some ca- provide evidence of past human habitation and activity Niphargus aggtelekiensis, the pseudoscorpion Neobissium ves were formed by the dissolution effect of standing (primarily from the Early and Late Stone Age, Bronze (Blothrus) slovacum, Pseudosinella aggtelekiensis, and the or slowly flowing water which filled underground Age, Iron Age and Middle Ages). A total of 1,184 caves tiny beetles Duvalius hungaricus and Duvalius bokori. Other chambers up to the ceiling. One example is Ochtin- are currently recorded in the Slovak part of this karst rare invertebrates such as Eukoenenia spelaea and Typhlo- ská Aragonite Cave whose chambers, once drained, system, and 280 caves in the Hungarian part. No other iulus sp have recently been discovered in Gombasecká Cave were seen to be covered with clusters of beautiful temperate-zone cave system in the world features such and Domica Cave. Bats are another important group of ani- needle and spiral helictites of aragonite crystals. a concentration of archetypal caves. mals found in these caves. Gombasecká Cave Water played an essential role in the formation of Ochtinská Arragonite Cave the caves. Over several million years, rainwater – enriched with carbon dioxide from the soil and, to a lesser extent, air – steadily dissolved the thick limestone layers of the Slo- vak Karst, forming hollow spaces that evolved into caves. Pseudosinella aggtelekiensis Rhinolophus ferrumequinum.
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